Picture frame strip

ABSTRACT

A picture-frame strip for framing pictures adaptable to correspond in size to the picture to be framed. The strip forms a ridgid frame and may be used with an extensible band which fits about the strip to provide a uniform frame appearance. The strip comprises a plurality of elements flexibly connected together which can be cut to required size and adjusted, where required, to form corners.

I United States Patent [1 1 1111 Mentken May 20, 1975 [54] PICTURE FRAME STRIP 331,065,922 lg/lggg an" 40/l52.1 X ,200,5 1 40 152 1761 97th 3,327,562 aims? 40/1s 2 x New York. N.Y. 10029 [22] Filed: June 26, 1974 Primar Examiner-Robert W. Michell A y E W 1 .1 C ssistant xaminerences a0 ontreras [2]] Appl' 483162 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Harvey Mark Rogosin Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 311,552, Dec. 1, [57] ABSTRACT 1972, abandoned.

A p1cture-frame strip for framing pictures adaptable to 52 11.5. C1. 40/155 correspmd in 5116 Picture be framed- The 511 Int. Cl. G09f 1/12 Strip forms a ridgid frame and may be used with 58 Field of Search 40/152, 152.1, 155 tensibl? band which fits the Strip P uniform frame appearance. The strip comprises a plu- [56] References Cited rality of elements flexibly connected together which UNITED STATES PATENTS can be cut to required size and adjusted, where re- 'red,t f m c 2.5213303 9/1950 Prew 40/152 qul o or orners 2.709259 4/1957 Havens 40/155 12 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PICTURE FRAME STRIP This invention relates to picture frames and more particularly to frames which are adjustable in size. This application is a continuation in part of my copending application Ser. No. 311,552 Dec. 1, 1972 now abandoned.

Pictures requiring framing vary in size so there is a need for a frame which is adjustable in size to correspond to the picture to be framed. Various adjustable frame constructions are available, but none have the smooth, continuous appearance of a custom frame because they do not conceal the means of their adjustability.

Accordingly, an object of my invention is to provide a rigid frame which is adaptable in size and which is easily constructed to required size from prefabricated parts, uses no screws, is reversible. requires only one or two frame parts and provides an aesthetic and mechanical alternative to do-it-yourself" frames now available.

Another object of this invention is to provide a size adaptable frame which is continous and uniform in appearance, light in weight, easy and economical to manufacturer and requires no special tools or skill to construct.

In accordance with the objects of this invention, a picture-framing strip is provided which comprises a plurality of members, which may be flat and rectangular in shape, flexibly connected together advantageously by a thinner section of the same material from which each member is made, e.g., plastic of the type which is flexible in thin sections and rigid in thick sections. Each member has a second member advantageously flat and triangular in shape, similarly positioned and aligned with regard to the other similar members. projecting at a right angle from one side thereof. All of these second members are aligned in the same plane and each has surfaces defined. at least in part, along lines extending from the points where the flexibly connected members are joined, inwardly in the direction of the center of said second member at a forty-five degree angle with regard to the respective flexibly connected member from which it projects. Suitable means, for example, a lip on the first member, spaced from and adjacent to the second member, is provided to hold the picture and removeable means, advantageously a triangular member connected at the joint where the first members are flexibly connected, is provided to contact adjacent pairs of second members when the first members are arranged in a straight line. This strip may be cut, advantageously, with ordinary scissors, between the first members at the flexible joint to any required incremental length to size the strip. The removable means are left, or placed in position be tween the second members where straight sides for the frame are required and removed, or not placed into position there between at the points where corners are to be formed. Advantageously locking means is provided on the second element to hold the ends of the strip together or a channel-shaped extensible band is provided to fit about the strip for an alternate uniform frame appearance as well as for providing the lip means to hold the picture in the frame and to hold the ends of the strip together.

For a better understanding of the present invention together with other and further objects thereof, reference is made to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view showing a broken away section of the picture framing strip in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the strip section shown in FIG. 1, bent for easy removal of a portion thereof to form a corner;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the strip shown in FIG. 2 with a portion removed and formed into a corner in accordance with the invention and having a lip to retain a picture;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the strip shown in FIG, 2 with an extensible band placed thereabout,

With reference now to FIG. 1 a broken away portion of a picture framing strip 2 is shown comprising flat rectangularlyshaped members 4, 6, 8 flexibly joined together by thinner sections of the same plastic material from which it is made at the respective joints I0 and 12. Each flat rectangularly shaped element 4, 6 and 8 has a second, triangularly-shaped element 14, I6, and 18 respectively projecting at a right angle therefrom constructed from the same plastic material and integrally connected therewith. These second elements l4. l6 and 18 are similarly positioned and aligned with re spect to each respective rectangularly shaped element, They are all aligned in the same plane perpendicular to the triangular element and have surfaces 20, 22; 24, 26 and 28, 30 respectively defined along lines extending from the joints l0 and I2 and the joints 32 and 34 inwardly in the direction towards their respective centers at a 45 degree angle with regard to the flexibly connected member to which they are attached. Positioned between the respective triangular-shaped elements 14 and 16, and I6 and I8 respectively are removable insert elements 36 and 38 connected by a thin section of material at points 40 and 42 respectively. These mem bers also have surfaces 44, 46 and 48, 50 respectively that extend at 45 degree angle so that when the strip 2 is arranged in a straight line, as it can be by aligning the elements 4, 6 and 8 by straightening them at the joints I0 and 12, the surfaces 22 and 44, 46 and 24, 26 and 48 and 50 and 28 of the respective elements l4, l6, and 18 contact the surfaces of the removable elements 36 and 38. These elements 36 and 38 may also be provided separately or attached elsewhere on Strip 2 for insertion where required to form straight sides and are shown herein provided with co'operating locking means that is. snaps 50, S4, 56 and 57 on elements 36, 16, 38 and 18 respectively which fit into snap openings 58, 60, 62 and 63 on elements 14, 36, 16, and 38 respectively, to hold the strip in a straight line when so positioned. These snaps also serve to join the ends of the strip together at a corner when formed into a frame as will be fully explained in connection with FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. Other means may be employed to lock, strip section l4, l6 and 18 in position.

FIG. 2 shows the strip of FIG. I bent at the joint 10 for the easy removal of section 36 by cutting it away, with a scissors for example, at its point of connection 40 with strip 2, to enable a frame corner to be formed at that point The section 36 is easily cut away at point 40 because it is attached there to strip 2 by only a thin section of plastic. When this section 36 is removed the strip can be bent in the opposite direction at joint 10 to form the frame corner shown in FIG. 3.

With reference now to FIG. 3, the strip 2 is shown having lips 64, 66 and 68 on the strip sections 4, 6 and 8 which provides a means to hold a picture within the frame formed by the strip 2 which is shown in FIG. 1. In the FIG. 3 the Strip 2 is shown formed into a frame corner in accordance with the invention and has an additional section of strip 70 shown to more fully illustrate the corner formed at flexible joint 10 from the strip 2. Two other corners are similarly formed and the forth by joining the ends of the strip together to make a complete frame in accordance with the invention. With Section 36 removed the strip 2 is bent at joint 10 so that the surface 22 of element 14 contacts the surface 24 of element 16. Since these surfaces are at 45 degrees with respect to the members 4 and 6, a right angle is formed. In this case the snap 54 of element 16 engages the snap opening 58 of element 14 to hold the corner securely in place. The portions of strip 2 extending in both directions at right angles from joint 10 form straight frame sides as has been explained in detail with reference to FIG. 1. The lips 64, 66 and 68 in conjunction with the strip members 14, I6, 38 and 18 define an opening 72 to receive and hold a picture or a picture assembly which may include a glass and backing.

A frame is constructed to any required incremental size by sizing a strip to required length by cutting it at a joint between sections. for example at joint I0, removing appropriate sections to form corners where they are required as has been illustrated by the removal of element 36. and wrapping the strip around the picture or picture assembly to be framed and joining the ends of the strip together at a corner by means of the cooperating snaps in the elements.

With reference now to FIG. 4, an extensible channelshaped band 74 is shown positioned about the strip 2. This band provides an alternate frame appearance which is continuous and uniform without joints showing and also provides a lip 76 to define. in conjunction with strip elements l4. 16, 38 the opening 72 to receive the picture or picture assembly. This band also serves to hold the ends of the strip together and makes the cooperating snap means 58 and 54 optional.

The frame strip advantageously provides a finished frame appearance on both sides. hence it is reversible and when made so that the flexibly connected members 4, 6, and 8 define two asymetrical sections with respect to the second member projecting therefrom, a choice of two different openings are provided in one frame.

Furthermore, the means to hold the strip is a straight position. when insertable means are used. advantageously may be a second strip identical to the first one.

What is claimed is:

I. A picture-frame strip for framing pictures comprising in combination a plurality of members flexibly connected together. each member having a respectively similarly positioned and aligned second member projecting at a right angle from one side thereof. all said second members being aligned in the same plane and each having surfaces defined at least in part along lines extending from the points where the flexibly connected members are joined, inwardly, in the direction of the center of said second member, at a 45 degree angle, with regard to the respective flexibly connected member from which it projects. means spaced from an adjacent to said second member to retain a picture, remov able means to be positioned between adjacent ones of said second members in the plane defined thereby to contact said adjacent second members when said respective first members are arranged in a straight line, and means to hold the ends of the strip together when said frame is formed.

2. A strip as described in claim 1 wherein said members flexibly connected together are flat and rectangular in shape.

3. A strip as described in claim 2 wherein said second members are flat and triangular in shape.

4. A strip as described in claim 3 wherein said strip is made of plastic and wherein the rectangular elements are made of relatively thicker sections of the plastic and are flexibly joined together by relatively thinner sections of the plastic.

5. A strip as described in claim 4 wherein said removable means is a triangular-shaped element connected to the strip.

6. A strip as described in claim 5 wherein said removable means is a triangular-shaped element connected to the strip at the flexible joint by a thin membrane of said plastic.

7. A strip as described in claim 6 and cooperating locking means on said triangular shaped second members to lock them together when they are in a position of contact with each other.

8. A strip as described in claim 7 wherein said means to hold the ends of the strip together is said cooperating locking means.

9. A strip as described in claim 8 wherein said means to retain said picture is a lip on said rectangular element on the same side as and spaced from and adjacent to said triangular element.

10. A strip as described in claim I and a channel shaped extensible band adapted to fit about said strip to provide an alternate frame appearance and to provide means to retain the picture and to hold the ends of the strip together.

11. A strip as described in claim 1 wherein said removable means to be positioned between adjacent ones of said second members is a second strip identical to the first.

12. A strip as described in claim I wherein the first flexibly joined member defines two asymetrical sections with respect to the second member projecting therefrom for providing a reversible frame. 

1. A picture-frame strip for framing pictures comprising in combination a plurality of members flexibly connected together, each member having a respectively similarly positioned and aligned second member projecting at a right angle from one side thereof, all said second members being aligned in the same plane and each having surfaces defined at least in part along lines extending from the points where the flexibly connected members are joined, inwardly, in the direction of the center of said second member, at a 45 degree angle, with regard to the respective flexibly connected member from which it projects, means spaced from an adjacent to said second member to retain a picture, removable means to be positioned between adjacent ones of said second members in the plane defined thereby to contact said adjacent second members when said respective first members are arranged in a straight line, and means to hold the ends of the strip together when said frame is formed.
 2. A strip as described in claim 1 wherein said members flexibly connected together are flat and rectangular in shape.
 3. A strip as described in claim 2 wherein said second members are flat and triangular in shape.
 4. A strip as described in claim 3 wherein said strip is made of plastic and wherein the rectangular elements are made of relatively thicker sections of the plastic and are flexibly joined together by relatively thinner sections of the plastic.
 5. A strip as described in claim 4 wherein said removable means is a triangular-shaped element conneCted to the strip.
 6. A strip as described in claim 5 wherein said removable means is a triangular-shaped element connected to the strip at the flexible joint by a thin membrane of said plastic.
 7. A strip as described in claim 6 and cooperating locking means on said triangular shaped second members to lock them together when they are in a position of contact with each other.
 8. A strip as described in claim 7 wherein said means to hold the ends of the strip together is said cooperating locking means.
 9. A strip as described in claim 8 wherein said means to retain said picture is a lip on said rectangular element on the same side as and spaced from and adjacent to said triangular element.
 10. A strip as described in claim 1 and a channel-shaped extensible band adapted to fit about said strip to provide an alternate frame appearance and to provide means to retain the picture and to hold the ends of the strip together.
 11. A strip as described in claim 1 wherein said removable means to be positioned between adjacent ones of said second members is a second strip identical to the first.
 12. A strip as described in claim 1 wherein the first flexibly joined member defines two asymetrical sections with respect to the second member projecting therefrom for providing a reversible frame. 